Straining post foe wire fences



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. NEIL.

STRAINING POST FOR WIRE FENCES. No. 566,408. Patented Aug. 2-5, 1896.

m: NORRIS PETERS co, movoumo ywsummom u a (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2 M. NEIL.

STRAINING P0$T FOR WIRE FENCES.

No. 566,408. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

llNrrn MICHAEL NEIL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JESSE A. MOOLURE, OF SAME PLACE.

STRAINlNG-POST FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,408, dated August 25, 1896, Application filed July 2,1896. Serial No. 597,829. (No model.)

To ctZl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL NEIL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straining-Iosts for lVire Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a straining post for Wire fences, by means of which the terminal or end vertical posts of the fence are braced and held in their upright position against the strain of the longitudinal line or fence wires, and in such connection it relates particularly to the construction and arrange ment of such a straining-post for a fence.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide a simple, durable, and efficient device for supporting in an upright or vertical position the terminal or end posts of a fence against the strain of the longitudinal line-wires 5 second, to provide a straining post or brace consisting of two parallel inclined bars, bridged or united to each other, the upper ends of the bars being secured to the upper end of the vertical fence-post, the lower ends of the bars being supported upon the ground, a series of tie-rods arranged hori- Zontally and securing the inclined bars to the fence-post, and a tie-rod and anchor securing the inclined bars to the ground, and, third, to provide in such a straining post or brace a series of spindles adapted to be rotated in one direction in the inclined bars by means of a key or Wrench and a ratchet mechanism to prevent the reverse movement of the said spindles, the ends of the line-wires being secured to the said spindles and adapted to be wound up thereon.

My invention, stated in general terms, consists of a straining-post for wire fences, constructed and arranged in substantially the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a wire fence the end posts of which are supported in vertical position by straining-posts embodying main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of an end post, looking toward the left of Fig. 1, certain parts being removed or broken away. Fig. 3 u

is an enlarged front view of the fence and straining-posts. Fig. A is a top or plan view of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of Fig. 3, looking toward the right. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 0a 00 of Fig. 4., illustrating the construction and arrangement of the spindles and the ratchets; and Fig. 7 is a front view of the inner ratchet secured to the side of the straining-post.

Referring to the drawings, A A represent the end posts, and B B the line-wires, of the fence. The end posts by preference are substantially V shape in cross-section, and their lower ends are split into two projecting prongs or spurs A A, forced into the ground and assisting to maintain the posts in a vertical position. On that side of the posts A A facing the middle of the fence are arranged two inclined parallel bars a a, arranged in fixed relationship to each other by means of the bridge-piece Z) at the lower end of the bars and the upper end of the post A, so that a space is formed between the two bars a a, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The bars a a and bridge-piece b are secured together by means of a bolt and nut Z), and the upper ends of the bars a a and post A are secured together by means of a similar bolt and nut 5 The end posts A are provided with a series of rectangular slots 61, provided in the angle of the post, and on the interior of the post, back of these slots, is secured a vertical rod or Wire 6. Arranged transversely in the inclined bars a is a series of shafts or spindles f, adapted to rotate in the bars and having one end squared, as at f, to permit of the reception of a key or wrench for the purpose of turning the spindles in the said inclined bars. The rod or Wire 6 of the fence-post A is secured by means of tie-rods or wires g, passing through the slots cl, to the spindles f in such a manner that they may turn without Winding up or slackening the tie-rods or wires g. These tierods or wires g serve to secure the inclined bars a a to the fence-post A. The lower end of the side bars a and fence-post A are connected, preferably, by means of a rigid rod h,

one end of which may be secured to the bridgee piece I), and the other end may be passed through the end post A and fastened thereto by means of a nut h and collar 71 The inclined bars a are also provided with a pin or shaft 70, to which is secured one end of ananchor-rod Z, passing through the post A and secured to a block Z, introduced into the ground on that side of the post A opposite to the inclined bars a a. The lower ends of the bars a a are supported, preferably, upon a flat stone m or other firm foundation. The spindles f project beyond the sides of the bars a, and on one end is located a coiled spring f confined thereon between a nut f and the bar Ct. On the other bar ais secured a ratchet-disk f through which the spindle projects, and adjacent to this disk f and secured to the spindle f is introduced another ratchet-disk f, the teeth of the two disks being held in engagement with each other by the spring f, as illustrated in Fig. 6. These two disks are so arranged as to permit of the turning of the spindles in one direction, the teeth sliding over each other and the spindle shifting transversely in the inclined bars against the resistance of the spring f. The longitudinal or horizontal line-wires B are secured at their ends to the spindles f between the inclined bars, so that by turnin g the spindles the wires may be tightened to draw up the slack in the fence.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the end post of a fence, of parallel inclined bars secured at their upper ends to the fence-post, a series of tie-rods securing the fence-post and inclined bars together, an anchor introduced into the ground on the side of the fence-post opposite to that on which said bars are located, and a teases tie-rod passing through the fence-post and securing the inclined bars to the anchor, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination with a vertical post, of parallel bars secured at one end to the post and inclined downward therefrom to the ground, a series of line-wires secured to the bars, a series of horizontal tie-rods securing the bars to the post, an anchor secured in the ground on that side of the post opposite to that on which the bars are located, and a tie-rod securing the inclined bars to the anchor, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination with a vertical post, of the bridged parallel bars secured at their upper ends to the post and inclined downward therefrom to the ground, a series of spindles adapted to turn in one direction in said bars, a series of 1ine-wires secured at one end to said spindles between the inclined bars, a series of horizontal tie-rods securing the bars tothe post, and means for preventing the turning of the spindles in the other direction in said bars, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4:. The combination with a vertical post, bridged parallel inclined bars, tie-rods securing the bars to the post, spindles turning in the bars, line-wires secured at one end to the spindles between the bars and a toothed disk secured to each spindle, of a toothed disk secured to the bar and a spring adapted to hold the disks in toothed engagement to prevent the spindle from turningin one direction, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL NEIL. -Witnesses:

WVILBERT A. MILLER, H. H. PRUGH. 

